The wait is finally over, and the first group-stage match for South Africa is right around the corner.
So far, the preparation has been a bit of a mixed bag, but some of the boxes have been checked.
The Proteas have one of the strongest middle orders in terms of strike rate and consistency, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the openers.
In addition, the death bowling has been wavering every so often, but with plenty of experience, they’ll look to hit the ground running and sort out the flaws.
Their opponents, Zimbabwe, are definitely brimming with confidence, as this is the first time they have made it through the First Round qualifiers into the main draw. The wins against Ireland and Scotland have brought about a memorable beginning for the Chevrons.
However, they do seem to be overly reliant on the all-round prowess of Sikandar Raza, who has had a scintillating year across formats.
Despite the fact that they’re facing a noticeably stronger competitor early on, there’s plenty of incentive to perform and make a positive first impression.
Under the spotlight
For the Proteas, it’s undoubtedly the openers’ conundrum. Skipper Temba Bavuma has been opening alongside Quinton de Kock since he took charge of the white-ball sides, but on either side of his elbow injury, he’s had a largely forgettable 2022 in this format. That and missing out on the SA20 draft have only piled on to the pressure he’s already under. Notwithstanding the situation, Bavuma is ready to front up and put in his utmost effort.
The full press conference can be found here.
And to add to the headache, Reeza Hendricks, the reserve opener, made 4 consecutive half-centuries during the English summer and has markedly improved his approach despite facing frequent flak about his ability to score quickly. Debates aside, maximizing runs in the Powerplay will be a key point of focus for the entirety of the tournament.
Zimbabwe have often relied on their experienced players to deliver when push comes to shove, but the young players in the mix are always raring to impress, too.
Enter Wesley Madhevere, the 22-year-old off-spinning allrounder who bats in the top 4. Not too long ago, he appeared to have turned a corner with his batting, when he scored a solid 72 in an ODI against Australia. It’s been a relatively quieter start for him in this tournament, but both elements of his game will be beneficial going forward, and he’s a promising understudy to the remarkable Raza.
Potential XI’s
First of all, don’t expect too many surprises from either side. Both teams have had their share of success heading into this game.
The Proteas will very likely field a similar XI from the most recent T20I series against India, but the absence of Dwaine Pretorius (broken finger) will compromise the batting depth. Their all-round options are Wayne Parnell and Marco Jansen, both of whom are more proficient bowlers than they are batters. And No 7 might be one position too high, but they’ll have to make do with their resources.
Finally, since the Zimbabwean players have struggled against spin, there’s a good chance that both Maharaj and Shamsi will get a game. And there’s a toss-up between the wicket-taking ability of Lungi Ngidi and the ominous velocity of Anrich Nortje.
Bavuma [c], de Kock [wk], Rossouw, Markram, Miller, Stubbs, Parnell, Maharaj, Rabada, Ngidi, Shamsi
Barring any injuries, Zimbabwe will play an identical XI from the game against Scotland. They have a very potent seam attack, and having multiple all-round choices in the XI takes care of their spin-bowling duties. Much like SA, the top order is under scrutiny and will need to turn up on a more regular basis.
Chakabva [wk], Ervine [c], Madhevere, Williams, Raza, Shumba, Burl, Jongwe, Ngarava, Chatara, Muzarabani
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